The Sunday Social, 1/8: Your Favourite Songs of 2016?

As we settle into the new year, many of us also take time to look back at the last 12 months. It’s no different here at Seoulbeats, as we continue through our End-of-Year Review for 2016. We’ve been looking at a number of categories, but one aspect we’re not delving into is discussing individual songs — the tunes that sustained us through the year.

So, I would like to use this Sunday Social to ask: what were your top five songs of 2016? Which singles stood out, and which B-sides captured your attention? Did popular acts deliver, or did you venture off the beaten track in search of music? Mine are mainly from the K-pop mainstream, like Luna‘s “Keep On Doin’.”

Mine is mostly mainstream too…Of course, I ended up loving SHINee’s title songs this year as well, but their b-sides are what really got me. Esp Rescure from 1and1 and Prism and feel good from 1of1. It’s not typical SHINee ‘out there’ kind of music, but the vocals are so dreamy. My fingers are crossed for a banger this year, esp with the impending enlistment.
Other than them, EXO’s lotto ended up growing on me, so did Luna’s Be Somebody. Fx’s All Mine, LunaxAmber’s Wave, Onew’s starry night, Taemin’s One by One and soldier, Jonghyun’s dress up, suit up, cocktail (the whole damn album) . There were so many bops from SM this year, I have no idea why everyone is complaining. I fell for BTS this year to ^^ so many bops, but still 2016 was a sad sad year for kpop.

peppermint

mine is pretty much all over the place, i listen to whatever given to me. some of my favorites:
-room 314 by neon bunny
-lorelei by ladies’ code
-save me by bts
-missing you by lee hi
-d (half moon) by dean
i just recently listened to luna’s free somebody, i like it (can’t believe i missed this one), it sad that i wasn’t successful solo i hope the best for her. my 2017 resolution is to discover a lot of artists, not just mainstream one :)

netz

Free Somebody was definitely my favourite song of the year, but I wouldn’t necessarily call Luna mainstream (yet). F(x) has always been on the side margins of what is considered “successful” by SM standards and due to Luna’s debut solo single not being a ballad and depending more on European club music it performed poorly.
My other favourites were: Why So Lonely, Navillera, Secret, Russian Roulette, Decalcomanie, How People Move, Taller Than You, Sentimental, and My Star. There were lots of great releases by lesser-known groups that I enjoyed too.

Mary

Oh my dear god. You asked. *breaks out Spotify*

Ladies Code entire ‘Mystery’ EP, Red Velvet’s second mini, Taemin’s album (Soldier, Press Your Number, Hypnosis, One by one), Seventeen’s 3rd mini (Beautiful, Highlight, Don’t Listen in Secret, Fast Pace), Taeyeon’s 11:11 and Why, Jessica’s You Can Fly, Zhou Mi’s second EP ‘What’s Your Number?’ (esp. Empty Room), Suga’s Agust D (oh my god, what an experience. Taeyeon’s ‘I’ from 2015 is the only thing that comes close to the emotional and personal impact this mixtape has for me. Rarely does Kpop really feel like a healing, emphatic experience. This did. One of the best things to come out of the year.)

2016 was also the first year I really dived into Kpop so I also found bands/soloists who are my absolute favorites – Brown Eyed Girls, SHINee, f(x), Ladies Code, Red Velvet, Zhou Mi, Taeyeon, Taemin and Suga, Lim Kim, Suran, Heize, Deli Spice, Ggotjam Project…. god. SO good.

[If i have any of the years wrong for any of these releases, it could be that the date I’m seeing is the date they were uploaded to spotify].

Ri

2016 was the year I started exploring K-HipHop and K-R&B and also K-Underground. I have found a lot of good songs, but i’d say my top 5 are Yungmoodmedia – Bad High, The Plan8 feat. Jeebanoff – How We Love, offonoff – Bath, Loco – 남아있어, and Fanxy Child – Bermuda Triangle. Well, it wouldn’t just be top 5 if I add Crush’s and Dean’s songs, since I love all of their songs. Their music just fits my taste perfectly.

squinter

My favorite for this year is none other than Crush’ Don’t Forget. It was such an amazing song and I like how the lyrics are so sentimental too and a bit bittersweet? Not to mention Crush’ vocal is always pleasant to listen to.

I think there’s a lot more songs and groups and I’ve listened to… I feel like i need to put Bolbbagan4 in the list but i haven’t really listened to their songs that much. I also would have put Dean too but my favorite release from him so far is Pour Up haha.

Nation’s bitch face

Hold my hand, TT, veryx3, lucky one and why so lonely are definitely are in my top 5 singles of 2016.

Some love (RV) and hyuna’s a’wesome b-tracks are a must listen but this year I’ve gone astray of kpop and paid more attention to English/latino music.

mattemate

5. windy day – oh my girl
4. i’m fine – victon
3. lonely – wonder girls
2. free somebody – luna
and then galaxy by ladies’ code was definitely my number 1 song. its so dreamy and ethereal… i remember being obsessed with it when it first came out! and then i just continued listening to it throughout the year….i’m honestly still not tired of that song.